The game — part of Monte Cristo’s budget strategy line — makes references to movies like Casino in its packaging, and yet actual play is lily-white. No shady dealings, no fixed games, no corruption outside the occasional cheating guest. Now, I’m not suggesting casinos are crooked, or have to be to turn a profit. But wouldn’t it have been fun to make a little extra cash from wiseguys or fix games or at least give players the ethical decision of whether to take such measures?

Apparently, Cat Daddy didn’t think so. And while we commend them on their morals, we also suggest perhaps an expansion pack a la The Sims that explores the darker side of casino life.

So, where does that leave us? The player starts with an open floor and a set amount of cash. In keeping with Cat Daddy’s usual format (see Golf Resort Tycoon), the player can choose from a few initial games and services. Upgrading the casino entrance unlocks new options, as does purchasing certain items. Unfortunately, it’s a system that is often head-scratching in this case. Why would I be able to buy security cameras — which are the only way to reveal some guests as criminals — from the outset, but have to upgrade the entrance and then build up cash before building a security office (which is the only way to evict criminals after they’ve been detected)?

The same puzzlement is spread throughout the game, because guests walk in expecting activities or options that can’t be purchased until much later. A better idea for Cat Daddy would be to program guest AI to scale expectations close to what the player can actually deliver. Or make more games and services available from the outset.

Anyhoo, so the player will start with said cash, just enough to build some card games and slots, plus hire a few dealers and maybe build a bar. And then it’s time to play the waiting game because even on Easy difficulty, there won’t be enough cash to upgrade to the next level of moneymakers. Here’s where some crooked moneymaking might have come in handy, because otherwise there’s nothing to do but wait and watch cash come in (and go out, depending on set the level of payout).

I literally left the computer for about an hour at this point and still had to wait a bit longer to buy the next upgrade. Sure, some folks died, but it only costs around $500 each time. How much better would that wait have been if I could have taken an offer I couldn’t refuse to make up some of the money? Or fixed the blackjack table? Oh, well.

It’s no mistake I mentioned The Sims above, because Casino Tycoon’s guests act and emote just like Maxis’ famous folks. They express their desires with thought bubbles which display icons for factors like food, drinks, happiness, anger and more. Said bubbles can even identify criminals or alert the player of heart attacks. (Apparently, some guests just can’t handle the excitement of slot machines.)

Guest needs are also sometimes broadcast in a text window, though these tend to be limited to bad things like heart attacks or muggings. Even worse, there’s no way to jump to which guest is complaining. That’s inexcusable in heart-attack situations, where the player must respond immediately, so a medic can reach the guest before a devil pops up and carries said visitor to the Underworld. Also bad: Each message remains in the text window until something else can replace it. So, short of scrolling through the entire casino, there’s no telling whether that heart attack message is from the last victim or an entirely new one.

I understand that I’m holding a budget game to awfully high standards, but Cat Daddy and Monte Cristo really have a promising concept on their hands here. Casinos are a natural setting for fun situations sometimes involving tough decisions. Maybe it’s time to spend some time making the gameplay deeper (whether via add-on pack or an all-new release) instead of rushing to the next quickie title.